Spiritual Growth

Growth is measured in terms of encounters and not in terms of time.

Decision

Your decision reveals who you are and who you will become. What you are experiencing now is a
product of your previous decisions. Who you turned out to be now is also a product of your decision.
Every man is shaped by their decisions.

Your current spiritual status is a product of your previous decisions. After discovering your current
spiritual status you must decide to grow. You must be committed to doing the things that will make you
grow daily (Paul said I die daily). Growth is a product of commitment I.e it comes by commitment;
there's productivity in any and every thing you commit yourself to.

It is not enough to know your current spiritual status or knowing everything about spiritual growth and
not grow. Before you can experience growth you must be committed to the decisions that will make you
grow, e.g reading, praying,... Going through this book you will see a lot of steps that leads to spiritual
growth. Abiding in this principles will definitely produce your desired growth. Even the scriptures
recognized the one that doeth the WORD and not just the reader or hearer. What are your decisions?
What will they be as you go through each chapter of this book? Will you be committed to doing what
will make you grow? Decide today what your tomorrow will be. Decide now the measure of the statute
of Christ you want to attain.

Don't go through this book without making a decision to grow and don't continue without making a
commitment to spiritual development. The decision has always been yours, and it will always be yours.
Decide today!

Stages of spiritual development

The stages below are not the perfect way for the measurement of spiritual growth. It's just the ability of
man trying to relate spiritual development with physical development just as Paul did in his writings.

Babyhood

Childhood

Adulthood

You might be something and behave like something else

You might have some features of something and not be really that thing.

Physical maturity affects spiritual growth

Characteristics of the babyhood stage

Inactive

Babies can't do anything for themselves nor for others. They can't get things done because they don't
know how to and even if they do, they don't have the strength and the resources to do things. A baby
Christian needs a large amount of attention and guidance, they don't know how to participate in
spiritual activities and even if they do they don't know how to do it effectively and efficiently. If you
don't understand the foundational principles of the Christian faith or still need someone to teach you
the basics of the kingdom of God, then you're a still a babe. Hebrew 5:11-6:3

Totally dependent

Just has a baby depends solely on her mother physically for food, love, protection, etc to survive, so
does a baby Christian. They always have the give me, help me, guide me and protect me mentality
without offering anything in return.

Needs supervision

If you've have to be checked over and over again how you're handling a project or an activity, that
implies you're still a baby Christian; that is not yet reliable. Babies in Christ needs to be cared for,
monitored, prayed for, followed up and dealt with. They can't just be left alone after salvation, just like a
new born babe needs a regular monitoring so as not to injure themselves or fall off.

Demands simplicity

Because they don't know anything yet they always wonder about things and can't understand until it's
simplified, it's like converting meat into milk.

Unstable

Due to their newness of life in Christ and don't know yet there left from right in the things of God,
they're pruned to any kind of doctrine; this is why discipleship is very important I.e the information and
impartation of the knowledge of Christ and his kingdom in the heart of new believers.

Ignorant

This is one of the major features that describes a baby Christian. Their lack of knowledge can either be
caused by negligence or unawareness.

Unwilling to grow up

Because babies don't get to do things by themselves, they sometimes relax and enjoy themselves even
when they are expected to move on and grow.

Easily frustrated, distracted and hurt

They get tried of this easily I.e they have not learn perseverance. Any flashy or moving object can easily
break the focus of a baby. Lack of focus is a baby feature. Emotional instability describes a baby Christian
as well as a physical baby. Just a small action or reaction can cause them to be mad or sad.

Childhood

Unserious

At this stage, a childish Christian knows what to do but has an issue of displacement of priorities. They
give more consideration to pleasant things or activities than important ones. They think the Christian life
is a joke or is all about fun and enjoyment; and they handle it with levity. A childish Christian is known by
their priorities and how they handle things.

Enjoyment mentality

They always want to enjoy themselves and having what they want at the time they want it. Christians at
this level does not believe in suffering for Christ or has not accept the side of suffering in the kingdom,
but believe so much in the comfort God brings. This people don't care about the process, all they want is
the product.

Unreliable and unsteady

A childish Christian can't be trusted with a responsibility, because they are not dependable.

Abortive Attitude

Children like starting something and not finish it, especially if the start is fun or interesting. Due to their
unsteadiness they'll get frustrated doing the same thing all the time, with time they will lose interest in
it or if they find another interesting thing to do. Because of their curiosity, a childish Christian like
engaging in something new and intriguing; talk of evangelism, they will be very excited at first, but as
time goes on they will lose interest in it and pick up another assignment.

Curious

There is this desire or drive to check things out, question things,... they always want to know things,
asking questions regularly sometimes those questions are silly to a grown-up, so it is with spiritual
children, they operate more with their mental reasoning than spiritual reasoning.

Talkative

Kids love talking, naturally; they talk more than they think and most of the time, they don't think before
talking. Maturity is seen in how you value silence or how you handle isolation. Sometimes curiosity can
make you talk more than you should, this causes spiritual children to engage in foolish, evil and vain
talks.
Irresponsible

As a child grows up and when they started learning new things, whenever you need them to do for you
those things they have learned how to do, they either will not respond or respond reluctantly.
Responsibility is responding adequately to the ability possessed by someone or something. It is
irresponsible to do things when you feel like and not when things need to be done; this is one of their
problems, getting them to do what they ought to do when they ought to.

Too-know

The I-know-it-all mentality is common physically to children as well as spiritually, they think they know
all that there is about things, of which they know not as much as they ought to.

Adulthood

Correct priority

Those that are mature in the Lord always get their priorities right. They know what should come first.
They easily recognize God's will and submit to it ahead of what they want/desire, because His desires
has now become their desires. They always consider God's purposes first in any situation and in decision
making.

Not selfish

Just as a mother would give up her meal for her children, so is a mature Christian, they are not attached
to things. Giving, caring and sharing describes them.

Responsible

They are dependable; God wants us to respond to the abilities He has given us. Responsibility is a true
mark of spiritual maturity.

Obedience

This is an important character of spiritual maturity; believers that are mature are those that do the
bidding of the Lord wholeheartedly, willingly, eagerly, deliberately, and consistently. Unlike children
who do things when they feel like, mature believers obey when they ought to, when it's not convenient
or pleasing. They are after pleasing the One that loved them and has shown them mercy.

God Conscious

A mature Christian is always mindful of the purpose of God in every situation as well as what God's word
says about Him, rather than being self-conscious, I.e being moved by what people say about him or their
views. They are God-minded and purpose-driven.
Walk in love

Walking in love as stated in the scriptures especially in 1 Corinthians 13. They are guided by this rule of
love rather than selfish desires.

Sensitive to divine dealings

The ability to recognize God's dealings in our lives is a crucial thing, but it takes a mature Christian to
recognize God's dealings. Knowing what God doing or up to in your life is important, as well as the ability
to recognise His signature in your life's situation is one of the things that differentiate mature believers
from the immature ones.

Fruitful

Productivity is what is expected from every activity, mature believers are marked out by this. Effective,
efficient and fruitfulness is expected from every Christian and seen mostly in the lives of the mature
believers.

Forgives

Maturity is seen in how you handle offences. Many immature believers build fences when offences
come. Offences will definitely appear because we are living and relating with imperfect people, but God
wants you to grow up and be mature in the way we deal with offences. Why not learn forgiveness as a
mature believer would do. Revenge is not the answer to offences.

Humble

Mature believers has learned by experience not to be prideful, knowing they are who are because of
God's Grace; they have what they have because it was given to them from above I.e by God. As well as
their current position and status in life is the Lord's doing; knowing He's the one who lifts one up and
pull another down. Spiritual maturity is recognizing that God is your source; source of life, strength,
grace and glory.

Note:

Maturity does not mean perfection, and maturity is also in degrees. Jesus was not mature, He is perfect
and He is the ideal stature that we are all aiming to grow up into. Being mature in Christ is a process I.e
gradual, because it seems slow does not mean it is not going to happen. The road to maturity is not
always easy neither is it funny, you may have some difficulty in experiencing growth that does not mean
you you should give up. Remember, you are not a failure if you fail, but a failure if you refuse to try
again. It is God's intentions to make us whole, building us up and developing our character into that of
His only begotten son. Because you have a sense of maturity or some signs of it does not mean you
should relax and conclude that you have attained it, the truth is, you are not there yet and it is an on
going process that we must keep yielding to the Holy Ghost to maintain our growth process and
complete that good works of God in our lives.
You can be mature and still act childish, this happens sometimes in the physical, so it is not a surprise in
the kingdom of God. This abnormality is seen due to the believer's inconsistent walk with God and not
yielding to the Holy Ghost.

Hindrances to spiritual growth

Improper Birth

How were you saved? If you are not saved according to the scriptures, then you are not saved at all. It is
only a child that is born that can grow up, and also it is only when a seed is sow that it grows. If you are
not born again, you can not grow up spiritually. Were you born by faith or fear? Who did you believe at
salvation? Improper faith or misplaced faith leads to distorted experiences. Growing in Faith is part of
spiritual growth, because faith is the element that create your spiritual birth in Christ.

Ignorance

Everyone knows that ignorance is a disease that can lead to death if not attended to. It is high level
ignorance for you not to know that you are ignorant. It is foolishness for you to know you are ignorant
and not do something about it. When you don't know who you are in Christ, you cannot grow up to be
who He wants you to be. Ignorance is a major disease in the body of Christ, but the was part of it is that
it is evolving. In this generation, many thought the cure to ignorance is just reading I.e acquisition of
knowledge, it is not just knowledge that is needed for spiritual growth, but Revelation knowledge. Paul
prayed for the Ephesians church and some other churches that the Lord will grant them revelation. One
of the secret to spiritual growth is revelation knowledge, revelation of who you are in Christ and His
dealings in your life. This is the cure to ignorance, the revelation knowledge of Christ.

ARROGANCE/PRIDE

pride is......And arrogance is.....

Arrogance is a form of pride, and pride is an improper estimation of oneself or one's ability or even
knowledge. This is a great limitation to spiritual growth, when you think you know it all, is when you
know nothing at all. This attitude hinders spiritual growth and the was of all is arrogance, when you go
about bragging and boasting about who you are, what you have achieved, what you know,... And not
just an ordinary boast, but exhorting it high about others or other known principles. This attitude
produces irritation, it makes people that are willing to help you up irritated. The things and people that
God has planned to use to make you better, this attitude makes you blind to them.

LAZINESS
Laziness is....

That of you that just prefers to be relaxed and enjoy the pleasures of the moment over being
responsible and committed to things you ought to do, is known as laziness. Growth is work, it is a
process. You have a great part to play in your spiritual development. Don't you ever think, God will do
everything for you; in case you don't know, this life is the preparation for the next life and in the
kingdom of God, laziness is not allowed, God has no interest in the slothful and the lazy. To become who
God has designed you to be in life, you have to cast off the garment of laziness. If you are lazy, you will
experience little or no spiritual growth; but if you are willing to develop yourself and go beyond your
current spiritual level in life and in God, you have to renounce laziness and do what you have to do to
grow up.

UNYIELDING

The Holy Ghost is obligated by God to complete the workings of God in our lives and He can't do it if we
don't cooperate with Him. What does it mean to yield to the Holy Ghost? It means following His
instructions, His leadings and guidance. Cos He always instructs, leads and guides, so the question is; will
you follow it? Yielding is obeying, going for His directions. In the process of spiritual growth, there are
times when the Holy Ghost will direct you to do a particular spiritual activity e.g to read a spiritual book,
He knows that the knowledge there in is instrumental to your spiritual development. Yielding to Him
willingly, contributes greatly to your spiritual growth. He will ask you to do things that will Improve you,
of which sometimes it might not be convenient but they are beneficial. Learn to yield to Him willingly
whenever He leads you; harden not your heart so that your spiritual development won't be limited.

OFFENCES & UNFORGIVING

Offences can not be avoided no matter how you try, it is either you offend someone or someone offends
you-intentionally or unintentionally-but offences can be managed. Your response to offences
determines what it does to you. Offences can limit your spiritual development cos it's a negative
emotion that insulates the move or inhibit the flow of the Holy Ghost in your life. Offences can lead to
unforgiveness, so decide to forgive anyone that offends you, even before you are offended. Knowing
what you are aiming at I.e your desire for spiritual growth, don't take offence even when you are
offended. Manage offenses by confronting it, pouring out what offends you to the one that offended
you, to unclog your spirit man and for an unhindered flow of the life of God in you. Offences and
unforgiveness is like bonding or tying something or someone down I.e not letting go of what the person
did. He that ties others down will also be limited, just like the prisoner and the jailer. Holding unto
offences and keeping of unforgiveness in your heart, binds your heart and limits the operations of God
in your life and it also opens the door for the devil to operate in your life.
UNBALANCED DIET

Malnutrition is dangerous to the human health, so it is to your spiritual health. What do you Feed on? Is
it a balanced diet or not? Many feed on faith without addressing the work aspects of Faith. Be careful
what you feed on, make sure you balance every subject you encounter in the kingdom of God. Just as
too much intake of protein is dangerous to the health so is it when you feed on a subject that is not
balanced. Errors come in when a subject is over-emphasized beyond its contextual meaning. Maybe you
have been feeding on this kind of things, it only produce death instead of life, confusion instead of
clarity. Knowing who you are in Christ and what he has done for you will help you a lot on this path of
spiritual development. If you are being fed with what does not align with who you are in Christ, you are
taking in a dangerous diet. You don't give a dog grass to eat, neither should you feed cattles with bones.
Watch your diet, make sure it is balanced.

BAD COMPANY

Scriptures says evil companies corrupt good manners. The friends you keep will make you or Mar you.
They will either make you better, bringing out the best in you or make you worse, bringing out the worst
version of yourself. It is good to make and keep friends, but as a believer, what kind of friend do you
keep. An eagle in the company of chickens will eventually become a chicken as well as a chicken in the
company of eagles will later become an eagle. Not necessarily physically but behavioural and mentally.

You become like who you move with, you talk like them, they are your examples, you will definitely
behave like them. Keep the kind of friends that can add value to your life, not those that will pull you
down. Move with those that will help you to fuel your passion for God, that will encourage you in the
Lord and those that will motivate you to engage in things that will make you grow up spiritually.

Benefits of growing up spiritually

Discovery and fulfilment of divine purpose

The more mature you are, the more sensitive you will be to what Good has for you in life. God has a
purpose, God's purpose for you is enteenal, but it is something you have to discover of which you can't if
you are not sensitive and mature enough. In the physical, man never commits something great or of
high value into the hands of a child, so it is in the spiritual, the move you grow up the more
responsibility God will give to you. That's when you can discover your life's purpose and fulfill them.

Useful and useable

Many highly gifted believers are childish and mostly it's because their gift has blinded them from seeing
their reality spiritual stature in Christ. Because of immaturity many useful believers are not useable, God
can't use them for it's highest purpose. The scripture but any vessel that purgeth himself will be both
useful and useble. If we decide to let go of all childish attitudes and grow up, then will be both useful
and useable.

Stability and stamina

This across many areas of life, being stable is being steadfast, being focused and firm. Immature
believers do have several emotional swings, and faith swings, because they are not self controlled.
Stability in faith is one of the benefits of spiritual growth, this is one of the reason why we are advised by
Paul to grow up, not to be toss to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

Becoming more like Christ

One of the major reason of spiritual growth is character development, this is our focus and as well as
God's intension from the beginning ( Gen 1:26) that we become like Christ in thoughts and in actions,
not be Christ, but like him in stature and image, the process of becoming like him is not to make you him
but like him, there's different between the two. in righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:24). Fulfilling the
Devine mandate of becoming like him takes courage and hard work, but it is possible. Never give up in
this process of maturity.

Becoming like him is having is kind of character, characters like Matt 5:1_12, Gal 5:22-23, 1cor 13,
2peter 1:5_8 this is what spiritual growth is all about producing these fruits of righteousness.

Consequences of spiritual growth stagnation

Unstable

Immature believers are always unstable in everything since they are young in the faith and not yet firmly
rooted in love, they can take offences easily and become emotionally unstable. A little challenge or trial
can make them compromise their faith in Christ.

They are bound to be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

PRODUCTIVITY

The parable of the vine dresser

The reason why God is so interested in our spiritual growth is so that we can be productive, bearing
fruits of good deeds. He is the vine, we are the branches and any branch that remains in him and he is it
will produce fruit and any branch that produces fruit will he prune to produce more fruits.

God expects you and I to be productive, doing and bearing fruits of good deeds he has designed us to
do before the creation of the world. Will you let all this resources go in vain? He wants you to grow up
and be mature to the point of bearing fruits. Remember he said any branch that does not bear fruit will
be cut and burn in the fire. He is expecting something from you, just like he expected profits from the
servants he gave talents, Good is expectant, will you fail him? He doesn't like to be disappointed.

The parable of the vine dresser reveals a great deal of God's intensions and expectations, this show God
has been patient with you, expecting the fruits of righteousness in you, the question is how long will you
keep him waiting? Remember he's not going to wait forever and I don't think you want to be cut down
and I don't think he will be happy if he comes back and not find any fruit in you.

This book is one of the resources and mannure that God has made for your spiritual growth, it will be
disappointing if you read this material and not take any practical steps towards your spiritual
development.